Brief treatment (BT) or regular outpatient alcohol use or substance use disorder (SUD) treatment is a key element of the Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) model. It can be an effective, short-term, and low-cost treatment option for many people who misuse alcohol and drugs. Nevertheless, inconsistent BT implementation often costs similar to regular outpatient care. Prior research is also prevalent with inconsistent operationalizations regarding the measurement of BT received by patients. Therefore, there is a need to more explicitly identify and document...

Background:

Rates of smoking among those with serious mental illness (SMI) are two to three times higher than for the general population. Smoking is rarely addressed in mental health settings. Innovative outreach and treatment strategies are needed to address these disparities. The current study is a pilot study of the feasibility and acceptability of a chronic care model of tobacco cessation treatment implemented in outpatient psychiatry clinics.

Methods:

Participants were recruited from two outpatient psychiatric clinics and randomly assigned to intervention (counseling and nicotine...

Background:

Substance use disorders are reliably associated with high impulsivity and sensation seeking. Importantly, both precede problematic substance use, implicating them as risk factors. Individuals with substance use disorders show variable degrees of substance use (combined quantity and frequency) and substance-related problems and differ in both aspects from healthy controls. Dimensional research has indicated differential associations of impulsivity-related traits as well as sensation seeking with the degree of substance use and substance-related problems. The current study aimed to...

Background:

Smoking is still prevalent among people with substance use disorders. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of smoking among patients in treatment for substance use disorders and to analyze the effect of smoking both at baseline and follow-up on drop-out, mental health and quality of life.

Methods:

One hundred and twenty-eight inpatients (26% female), mainly with alcohol use disorder, staying at three different rehabilitation clinics in Eastern Norway, were interviewed at admission, and at 6 weeks and 6 months follow-up. The interview contained mental...

Following the launch of the UNODC-WHO International Standards for the Treatment of Drug Use Disorders (2016) (“the Standards”), there was a need for new globally applicable tools to ensure a qualified and effective response to drug use disorders (DUDs) around the world.

This work contributes to the achievement of the following United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

3- Good Health and Wellbeing

5- Gender Equality

8- Decent Work and Economic Growth

10- Reduced Inequalities

16- Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

17- Partnership for the Goals

Since the adoption of the first European Drug Strategy 2000–2004, the EU clearly defines drug-related problems as primarily being a Public Health issue. This approach was also endorsed recently by the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) countries through the OAS Hemispheric drug strategy 2011–15. In both cases, DDR policies are considered essential to develop a balanced approach in the field of drug policy. The implementation of such a balance is still a challenge for the CELAC region.

COPOLAD brings a unique opportunity to support the CELAC region in the practical...